Winners in the Food and Drink Awards 2019 reveal their recipe for success

Patrick Salmon and Toni Salmon, from Alfred Enderby who scooped food producer of the year in the Grimsby Live Food & Drink Awards 2019 (Image: Rick Byrne / Grimsbylive)

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The inaugural GrimsbyLive Food and Drink awards took place at the Stallingborough Grange Hotel to honour those who dedicate their businesses to the industry.

During a special dinner and awards ceremony on Wednesday night, Food and Drink awards were presented in the categories of; Restaurant of the Year, Pub or Bar of the Year, Food Pub of the Year, Tearoom or Coffee Shop of the Year, Food Producer of the Year, Chef of the Year, Pride of Cleethorpes, Best Fish and Chips, Outstanding Customer Service and Outstanding Contribution to Food and Drink.

In each category, three businesses or individuals were short-listed by our panel of judges and visited by a mystery shopper to determine the overall winners.

The Pride of Cleethorpes crown was taken by Willy's pub and brewery and owner Bill Parkinson admitted it was a surprise to win.

He said: "It was a surprise to get nominated and to make the final three - we've been here 35 years now.

"So we know customers' faces, lots of people have been coming in since the beginning and now they bring their children.

"I'm proud to receive the award."

He added that the award had been proudly displayed on the bar for the staff to see the following morning and he had even received a text to congratulate him at 2.30am!

Another of the evening's success stories was Docks Beers, who were named Pub of the Year, less than a year after opening in King Edward Street in Grimsby.

Dock Beers named Pub/bar of the year at the GrimsbyLive Food and Drink Awards. Here with Matt Arliss, right, general manager of sponsors John Roe Motors (Image: Rick Byrne / GrimsbyLive)

Docks Beers brought brewing back to Grimsby in August 2018 after a 50 year hiatus in production. Axholme Brewing Company, has gone from strength to strength, with a tap room subsequently opening in October 2018.

Director Shaz Shadan said: "We have been unbelievably overwhelmed in getting the response and the support of the town.

"We feel extremely lucky to have put together the team that we have. We've got some remarkable individuals - a diverse team; lots of ingredients when you put them all together, there's something for everybody.

"I'm incredibly proud and chuffed to bits - we are now looking to the future, there's more to come so watch this space.

"We were up against some amazing venues we all frequent ourselves - they are all running amazing establishments.

"Everyone was so nice and complimentary and generous before and after."

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